Understanding Resilience Dimensions and Adaptive Strategies to the Impact of Recurrent Droughts in Borana Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia: A Grounded Theory Approach

Zewdie Birhanu, Argaw Ambelu, Negalign Berhanu, Abraraw Tesfaye and Kifle Woldemichael
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Zewdie Birhanu: Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, Jimma 378, Ethiopia
Argaw Ambelu: Department of Environmental Health Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, Jimma 378, Ethiopia
Negalign Berhanu: Department of Health Economics, Management and Policy, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, Jimma 378, Ethiopia
Abraraw Tesfaye: Resilient Africa Network, Horn of Africa Resilience Innovation Lab, Jimma University, Jimma 378, Ethiopia
Kifle Woldemichael: Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, Jimma 378, Ethiopia

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-18

Abstract: Recurrent shocks and stresses are increasingly deteriorating pastoralist communities’ resilience capacities in many aspects. A context specific resilience framework is essential to strengthen pastoralist community’s resilience capacity towards the impact of recurrent drought. Hence, the present study was aimed to develop a context specific and data driven resilience building framework towards impacts of recurrent droughts in the case of Borana pastoralists in Ethiopia. Qualitative grounded theory approach was employed to guide the study process. The data were collected through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews in two drought affected districts of Borana Zone during October 2013. The analysis was assisted by ATLAS. ti 7.1.4. The analysis provided a context specific resilience building conceptual tool, which consists of, closely interconnected, eight dimensions operating at multiple capacities and levels: environment (underlying vulnerability factor); livestock, infrastructures/social services, and wealth (immediate causes and effects); community network/social capital, as well as governance, peace and security (support and enabling factors oriented), psychosocial, and human capital (as eventual outcomes and impacts). The resilience capacities of these pastoralist communities have been eroded, leaving them without sufficient and effective adaptive strategies. The emergent resilience framework can serve as a useful guidance to design context-specific interventions that makes the people and the system resilient to the impacts of recurrent droughts.

Keywords: resilience; recurrent droughts; disasters; shocks; adaptive capacity; coping strategies; pastoralists; Borana; Ethiopia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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